Letter to the Editor, submitted 10/29/18
The views stated here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the staff of this newspaper.
Liz Glidden, Haddam’s Town Planner, announced recently that after ten
years of service she is leaving to change gears and take on a different line
of work.
Ten years ago then First Selectman Tony Bondi did Haddam a service
when he realized the need for a capable, full-time Town Planner and
appointed a committee to interview candidates and make
recommendations. Having grown up in Canton, CT, Ms Glidden worked in
Baltimore for about ten years before she returned to Connecticut and
applied for the job in Haddam along with a dozen or so others. She came
well prepared and for example was the only candidate who could explain
how to get to Haddam Neck.
Good planning for a town requires thinking for the long term. Regulations,
however, often limit what an individual property owner can do with his
property which makes the work naturally contentious. Yet in all cases, the
land owner will eventually sell out or pass on, but the town will continue to
exist so the effects of good planning will be felt for generations.
Liz Glidden could be described as a smart, tough hard worker, with a good
sense of humor. We can only hope that in its collective wisdom, Haddam
will commit to hiring someone who brings as much energy and ability to
the job as Liz has done.
Jim McHutchison
Haddam Neck
